Turmeric: Be Careful Where it Comes From
Reports indicate that some turmeric producers in Bangladesh have adulterated turmeric powder with lead chromate. Lead is a potent neurotoxin that affects cardiovascular health, brain function, and childhood neurological development. Stephen Luby, professor of medicine and director of research for the Center for Innovation in Global Health, noted that lead has no safe consumption threshold.
While direct evidence of adulterated turmeric was largely concentrated within Bangladesh due to export food safety checks encouraging lower lead levels in outbound shipments, researchers noted that periodic inspections may detect only a portion of adulterated products in global trade. Since 2011, more than fifteen brands of turmeric distributed internationally, including to the United States, have been recalled due to excessive lead concentrations.